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Pallotta MM, Di Nardo M, Musio A. Synthetic Lethality between Cohesin and WNT Signaling Pathways in Diverse Cancer Contexts. Cells 2024; 13:608. [PMID: 38607047 PMCID: PMC11011321 DOI: 10.3390/cells13070608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Cohesin is a highly conserved ring-shaped complex involved in topologically embracing chromatids, gene expression regulation, genome compartmentalization, and genome stability maintenance. Genomic analyses have detected mutations in the cohesin complex in a wide array of human tumors. These findings have led to increased interest in cohesin as a potential target in cancer therapy. Synthetic lethality has been suggested as an approach to exploit genetic differences in cancer cells to influence their selective killing. In this study, we show that mutations in ESCO1, NIPBL, PDS5B, RAD21, SMC1A, SMC3, STAG2, and WAPL genes are synthetically lethal with stimulation of WNT signaling obtained following LY2090314 treatment, a GSK3 inhibitor, in several cancer cell lines. Moreover, treatment led to the stabilization of β-catenin and affected the expression of c-MYC, probably due to the occupancy decrease in cohesin at the c-MYC promoter. Finally, LY2090314 caused gene expression dysregulation mainly involving pathways related to transcription regulation, cell proliferation, and chromatin remodeling. For the first time, our work provides the underlying molecular basis for synthetic lethality due to cohesin mutations and suggests that targeting the WNT may be a promising therapeutic approach for tumors carrying mutated cohesin.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Antonio Musio
- Institute for Biomedical Technologies (ITB), National Research Council (CNR), 56124 Pisa, Italy; (M.M.P.); (M.D.N.)
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2
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Holguin-Cruz JA, Bui JM, Jha A, Na D, Gsponer J. Widespread alteration of protein autoinhibition in human cancers. Cell Syst 2024; 15:246-263.e7. [PMID: 38366601 DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2024.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Autoinhibition is a prevalent allosteric regulatory mechanism in signaling proteins. Reduced autoinhibition underlies the tumorigenic effect of some known cancer drivers, but whether autoinhibition is altered generally in cancer remains elusive. Here, we demonstrate that cancer-associated missense mutations, in-frame insertions/deletions, and fusion breakpoints are enriched within inhibitory allosteric switches (IASs) across all cancer types. Selection for IASs that are recurrently mutated in cancers identifies established and unknown cancer drivers. Recurrent missense mutations in IASs of these drivers are associated with distinct, cancer-specific changes in molecular signaling. For the specific case of PPP3CA, the catalytic subunit of calcineurin, we provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of altered autoinhibition by cancer mutations using biomolecular simulations, and demonstrate that such mutations are associated with transcriptome changes consistent with increased calcineurin signaling. Our integrative study shows that autoinhibition-modulating genetic alterations are positively selected for by cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge A Holguin-Cruz
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Jennifer M Bui
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Ashwani Jha
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Dokyun Na
- School of Integrative Engineering, Chung-Ang University, 84 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-756, Republic of Korea
| | - Jörg Gsponer
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.
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3
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Mfarej MG, Hyland CA, Sanchez AC, Falk MM, Iovine MK, Skibbens RV. Cohesin: an emerging master regulator at the heart of cardiac development. Mol Biol Cell 2023; 34:rs2. [PMID: 36947206 PMCID: PMC10162415 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e22-12-0557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Cohesins are ATPase complexes that play central roles in cellular processes such as chromosome division, DNA repair, and gene expression. Cohesinopathies arise from mutations in cohesin proteins or cohesin complex regulators and encompass a family of related developmental disorders that present with a range of severe birth defects, affect many different physiological systems, and often lead to embryonic fatality. Treatments for cohesinopathies are limited, in large part due to the lack of understanding of cohesin biology. Thus, characterizing the signaling networks that lie upstream and downstream of cohesin-dependent pathways remains clinically relevant. Here, we highlight alterations in cohesins and cohesin regulators that result in cohesinopathies, with a focus on cardiac defects. In addition, we suggest a novel and more unifying view regarding the mechanisms through which cohesinopathy-based heart defects may arise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael G. Mfarej
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015
| | - Caitlin A. Hyland
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015
| | - Annie C. Sanchez
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015
| | - Matthias M. Falk
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015
| | - M. Kathryn Iovine
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015
| | - Robert V. Skibbens
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015
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4
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Horsfield JA. Full circle: a brief history of cohesin and the regulation of gene expression. FEBS J 2023; 290:1670-1687. [PMID: 35048511 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The cohesin complex has a range of crucial functions in the cell. Cohesin is essential for mediating chromatid cohesion during mitosis, for repair of double-strand DNA breaks, and for control of gene transcription. This last function has been the subject of intense research ever since the discovery of cohesin's role in the long-range regulation of the cut gene in Drosophila. Subsequent research showed that the expression of some genes is exquisitely sensitive to cohesin depletion, while others remain relatively unperturbed. Sensitivity to cohesin depletion is also remarkably cell type- and/or condition-specific. The relatively recent discovery that cohesin is integral to forming chromatin loops via loop extrusion should explain much of cohesin's gene regulatory properties, but surprisingly, loop extrusion has failed to identify a 'one size fits all' mechanism for how cohesin controls gene expression. This review will illustrate how early examples of cohesin-dependent gene expression integrate with later work on cohesin's role in genome organization to explain mechanisms by which cohesin regulates gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia A Horsfield
- Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Genetics Otago Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, The University of Auckland, New Zealand
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5
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Singh AK, Chen Q, Nguyen C, Meerzaman D, Singer DS. Cohesin regulates alternative splicing. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eade3876. [PMID: 36857449 PMCID: PMC9977177 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ade3876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Cohesin, a trimeric complex that establishes sister chromatid cohesion, has additional roles in chromatin organization and transcription. We report that among those roles is the regulation of alternative splicing through direct interactions and in situ colocalization with splicing factors. Degradation of cohesin results in marked changes in splicing, independent of its effects on transcription. Introduction of a single cohesin point mutation in embryonic stem cells alters splicing patterns, demonstrating causality. In primary human acute myeloid leukemia, mutations in cohesin are highly correlated with distinct patterns of alternative splicing. Cohesin also directly interacts with BRD4, another splicing regulator, to generate a pattern of splicing that is distinct from either factor alone, documenting their functional interaction. These findings identify a role for cohesin in regulating alternative splicing in both normal and leukemic cells and provide insights into the role of cohesin mutations in human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit K. Singh
- Experimental Immunology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Computational Genomics and Bioinformatics Branch, Center for Biomedical Informatics and Information Technology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Qingrong Chen
- Computational Genomics and Bioinformatics Branch, Center for Biomedical Informatics and Information Technology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Cu Nguyen
- Computational Genomics and Bioinformatics Branch, Center for Biomedical Informatics and Information Technology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Daoud Meerzaman
- Computational Genomics and Bioinformatics Branch, Center for Biomedical Informatics and Information Technology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Dinah S. Singer
- Experimental Immunology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Computational Genomics and Bioinformatics Branch, Center for Biomedical Informatics and Information Technology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
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6
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Kean CM, Tracy CJ, Mitra A, Rahat B, Van Winkle MT, Gebert CM, Noeker JA, Calof AL, Lander AD, Kassis JA, Pfeifer K. Decreasing Wapl dosage partially corrects embryonic growth and brain transcriptome phenotypes in Nipbl+/- embryos. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eadd4136. [PMID: 36449618 DOI: 10.1101/2022.05.31.493745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Cohesin rings interact with DNA and modulate the expression of thousands of genes. NIPBL loads cohesin onto chromosomes, and WAPL takes it off. Haploinsufficiency for NIPBL causes a developmental disorder, Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS), that is modeled by Nipbl+/- mice. Mutations in WAPL have not been shown to cause disease or gene expression changes in mammals. Here, we show dysregulation of >1000 genes in WaplΔ/+ embryonic mouse brain. The patterns of dysregulation are highly similar in Wapl and Nipbl heterozygotes, suggesting that Wapl mutations may also cause human disease. Since WAPL and NIPBL have opposite effects on cohesin's association with DNA, we asked whether decreasing Wapl dosage could correct phenotypes seen in Nipbl+/- mice. Gene expression and embryonic growth are partially corrected, but perinatal lethality is not. Our data are consistent with the view that cohesin dynamics play a key role in regulating gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connor M Kean
- Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Christopher J Tracy
- Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Apratim Mitra
- Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Beenish Rahat
- Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Matthew T Van Winkle
- Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Claudia M Gebert
- Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jacob A Noeker
- Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Anne L Calof
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Arthur D Lander
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Judith A Kassis
- Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Karl Pfeifer
- Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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7
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Kean CM, Tracy CJ, Mitra A, Rahat B, Van Winkle MT, Gebert CM, Noeker JA, Calof AL, Lander AD, Kassis JA, Pfeifer K. Decreasing Wapl dosage partially corrects embryonic growth and brain transcriptome phenotypes in Nipbl+/- embryos. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eadd4136. [PMID: 36449618 PMCID: PMC9710879 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.add4136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Cohesin rings interact with DNA and modulate the expression of thousands of genes. NIPBL loads cohesin onto chromosomes, and WAPL takes it off. Haploinsufficiency for NIPBL causes a developmental disorder, Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS), that is modeled by Nipbl+/- mice. Mutations in WAPL have not been shown to cause disease or gene expression changes in mammals. Here, we show dysregulation of >1000 genes in WaplΔ/+ embryonic mouse brain. The patterns of dysregulation are highly similar in Wapl and Nipbl heterozygotes, suggesting that Wapl mutations may also cause human disease. Since WAPL and NIPBL have opposite effects on cohesin's association with DNA, we asked whether decreasing Wapl dosage could correct phenotypes seen in Nipbl+/- mice. Gene expression and embryonic growth are partially corrected, but perinatal lethality is not. Our data are consistent with the view that cohesin dynamics play a key role in regulating gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connor M. Kean
- Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Christopher J. Tracy
- Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Apratim Mitra
- Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Beenish Rahat
- Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Matthew T. Van Winkle
- Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Claudia M. Gebert
- Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jacob A. Noeker
- Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Anne L. Calof
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Arthur D. Lander
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Judith A. Kassis
- Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Karl Pfeifer
- Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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8
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Buskirk S, Skibbens RV. G1-Cyclin2 (Cln2) promotes chromosome hypercondensation in eco1/ctf7 rad61 null cells during hyperthermic stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2022; 12:6613937. [PMID: 35736360 PMCID: PMC9339302 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkac157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Eco1/Ctf7 is a highly conserved acetyltransferase that activates cohesin complexes and is critical for sister chromatid cohesion, chromosome condensation, DNA damage repair, nucleolar integrity, and gene transcription. Mutations in the human homolog of ECO1 (ESCO2/EFO2), or in genes that encode cohesin subunits, result in severe developmental abnormalities and intellectual disabilities referred to as Roberts syndrome and Cornelia de Lange syndrome, respectively. In yeast, deletion of ECO1 results in cell inviability. Codeletion of RAD61 (WAPL in humans), however, produces viable yeast cells. These eco1 rad61 double mutants, however, exhibit a severe temperature-sensitive growth defect, suggesting that Eco1 or cohesins respond to hyperthermic stress through a mechanism that occurs independent of Rad61. Here, we report that deletion of the G1 cyclin CLN2 rescues the temperature-sensitive lethality otherwise exhibited by eco1 rad61 mutant cells, such that the triple mutant cells exhibit robust growth over a broad range of temperatures. While Cln1, Cln2, and Cln3 are functionally redundant G1 cyclins, neither CLN1 nor CLN3 deletions rescue the temperature-sensitive growth defects otherwise exhibited by eco1 rad61 double mutants. We further provide evidence that CLN2 deletion rescues hyperthermic growth defects independent of START and impacts the state of chromosome condensation. These findings reveal novel roles for Cln2 that are unique among the G1 cyclin family and appear critical for cohesin regulation during hyperthermic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean Buskirk
- Department of Biology, West Chester University, West Chester, PA 19383, USA
| | - Robert V Skibbens
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA
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9
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Pallotta MM, Di Nardo M, Sarogni P, Krantz ID, Musio A. Disease-associated c-MYC downregulation in human disorders of transcriptional regulation. Hum Mol Genet 2022; 31:1599-1609. [PMID: 34849865 PMCID: PMC9122636 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddab348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) is a rare multiorgan developmental disorder caused by pathogenic variants in cohesin genes. It is a genetically and clinically heterogeneous dominant (both autosomal and X-linked) rare disease. Increasing experimental evidence indicates that CdLS is caused by a combination of factors, such as gene expression dysregulation, accumulation of cellular damage and cellular aging, which collectively contribute to the CdLS phenotype. The CdLS phenotype overlaps with a number of related diagnoses such as KBG syndrome and Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome both caused by variants in chromatin-associated factors other than cohesin. The molecular basis underlying these overlapping phenotypes is not clearly defined. Here, we found that cells from individuals with CdLS and CdLS-related diagnoses are characterized by global transcription disturbance and share common dysregulated pathways. Intriguingly, c-MYC (subsequently referred to as MYC) is downregulated in all cell lines and represents a convergent hub lying at the center of dysregulated pathways. Subsequent treatment with estradiol restores MYC expression by modulating cohesin occupancy at its promoter region. In addition, MYC activation leads to modification in expression in hundreds of genes, which in turn reduce the oxidative stress level and genome instability. Together, these results show that MYC plays a pivotal role in the etiopathogenesis of CdLS and CdLS-related diagnoses and represents a potential therapeutic target for these conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria M Pallotta
- Institute for Genetic and Biomedical Research (IRGB), National Research Council (CNR), 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Maddalena Di Nardo
- Institute for Genetic and Biomedical Research (IRGB), National Research Council (CNR), 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Patrizia Sarogni
- Institute for Genetic and Biomedical Research (IRGB), National Research Council (CNR), 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Ian D Krantz
- Roberts Individualized Medical Genetics Center, Division of Human Genetics, The Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Antonio Musio
- Institute for Genetic and Biomedical Research (IRGB), National Research Council (CNR), 56124 Pisa, Italy
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10
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Mfarej MG, Skibbens RV. Genetically induced redox stress occurs in a yeast model for Roberts syndrome. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2022; 12:6460337. [PMID: 34897432 PMCID: PMC9210317 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkab426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Roberts syndrome (RBS) is a multispectrum developmental disorder characterized by severe limb, craniofacial, and organ abnormalities and often intellectual disabilities. The genetic basis of RBS is rooted in loss-of-function mutations in the essential N-acetyltransferase ESCO2 which is conserved from yeast (Eco1/Ctf7) to humans. ESCO2/Eco1 regulate many cellular processes that impact chromatin structure, chromosome transmission, gene expression, and repair of the genome. The etiology of RBS remains contentious with current models that include transcriptional dysregulation or mitotic failure. Here, we report evidence that supports an emerging model rooted in defective DNA damage responses. First, the results reveal that redox stress is elevated in both eco1 and cohesion factor Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutant cells. Second, we provide evidence that Eco1 and cohesion factors are required for the repair of oxidative DNA damage such that ECO1 and cohesin gene mutations result in reduced cell viability and hyperactivation of DNA damage checkpoints that occur in response to oxidative stress. Moreover, we show that mutation of ECO1 is solely sufficient to induce endogenous redox stress and sensitizes mutant cells to exogenous genotoxic challenges. Remarkably, antioxidant treatment desensitizes eco1 mutant cells to a range of DNA damaging agents, raising the possibility that modulating the cellular redox state may represent an important avenue of treatment for RBS and tumors that bear ESCO2 mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael G Mfarej
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA
| | - Robert V Skibbens
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA
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11
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Lafta IJ, Kudhair BK, Iyiola OA, Ahmed EA, Chou T. Evaluating Expression of the STAG1 Gene as a Potential Breast Cancer Biomarker. THE IRAQI JOURNAL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE 2021. [DOI: 10.30539/ijvm.v45i2.1255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
STAG proteins, which are part of the cohesin complex and encoded by the STAG genes, are known as Irr1/Scc3 in yeast and as SA/STAG/stromalin in mammals. There are more variants as there are alternate splice sites, maybe three open reading frames (ORFs) code for three main proteins, including: SA1 (STAG1), SA2 (STAG2) and SA3 (STAG3). The cohesin protein complex has various essential roles in eukaryotic cell biology. This study compared the expression of the STAG1 gene in four different breast cancer cell lines, including: MCF-7, T-47D, MDA-MB-468, and MDA-MB-231 and normal breast tissue. RNA was extracted from these cell lines and mRNA was converted to cDNA, and then expression of the STAG1 gene was quantified by three sets of specific primer pairs using Real Time-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The findings show significantly different over-expression of STAG1 in these cancer cell lines in comparison with the normal tissue, and the cell lines were different in their expression levels. In conclusion, the STAG1 gene can be postulated as a candidate breast cancer biomarker that needs to be further evaluated in breast tumor biopsies.
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12
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Liu S, Liu J, Xie Y, Zhai T, Hinderer EW, Stromberg AJ, Vanderford NL, Kolesar JM, Moseley HNB, Chen L, Liu C, Wang C. MEScan: a powerful statistical framework for genome-scale mutual exclusivity analysis of cancer mutations. Bioinformatics 2021; 37:1189-1197. [PMID: 33165532 PMCID: PMC8189684 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btaa957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2019] [Revised: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
MOTIVATION Cancer somatic driver mutations associated with genes within a pathway often show a mutually exclusive pattern across a cohort of patients. This mutually exclusive mutational signal has been frequently used to distinguish driver from passenger mutations and to investigate relationships among driver mutations. Current methods for de novo discovery of mutually exclusive mutational patterns are limited because the heterogeneity in background mutation rate can confound mutational patterns, and the presence of highly mutated genes can lead to spurious patterns. In addition, most methods only focus on a limited number of pre-selected genes and are unable to perform genome-wide analysis due to computational inefficiency. RESULTS We introduce a statistical framework, MEScan, for accurate and efficient mutual exclusivity analysis at the genomic scale. Our framework contains a fast and powerful statistical test for mutual exclusivity with adjustment of the background mutation rate and impact of highly mutated genes, and a multi-step procedure for genome-wide screening with the control of false discovery rate. We demonstrate that MEScan more accurately identifies mutually exclusive gene sets than existing methods and is at least two orders of magnitude faster than most methods. By applying MEScan to data from four different cancer types and pan-cancer, we have identified several biologically meaningful mutually exclusive gene sets. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION MEScan is available as an R package at https://github.com/MarkeyBBSRF/MEScan. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jinpeng Liu
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Yanqi Xie
- Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Tingting Zhai
- Department of Statistics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Eugene W Hinderer
- Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Arnold J Stromberg
- Department of Statistics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Nathan L Vanderford
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA.,Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Jill M Kolesar
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA.,Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Hunter N B Moseley
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA.,Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Li Chen
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA.,Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Chunming Liu
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA.,Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Chi Wang
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA.,Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
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Antony J, Chin CV, Horsfield JA. Cohesin Mutations in Cancer: Emerging Therapeutic Targets. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:6788. [PMID: 34202641 PMCID: PMC8269296 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22136788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The cohesin complex is crucial for mediating sister chromatid cohesion and for hierarchal three-dimensional organization of the genome. Mutations in cohesin genes are present in a range of cancers. Extensive research over the last few years has shown that cohesin mutations are key events that contribute to neoplastic transformation. Cohesin is involved in a range of cellular processes; therefore, the impact of cohesin mutations in cancer is complex and can be cell context dependent. Candidate targets with therapeutic potential in cohesin mutant cells are emerging from functional studies. Here, we review emerging targets and pharmacological agents that have therapeutic potential in cohesin mutant cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jisha Antony
- Department of Pathology, Otago Medical School, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand;
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Chue Vin Chin
- Department of Pathology, Otago Medical School, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand;
| | - Julia A. Horsfield
- Department of Pathology, Otago Medical School, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand;
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
- Genetics Otago Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
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14
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Labudina A, Horsfield JA. The three-dimensional genome in zebrafish development. Brief Funct Genomics 2021:elab008. [PMID: 33675363 DOI: 10.1093/bfgp/elab008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, remarkable progress has been made toward understanding the three-dimensional (3D) organisation of genomes and the influence of genome organisation on gene regulation. Although 3D genome organisation probably plays a crucial role in embryo development, animal studies addressing the developmental roles of chromosome topology are only just starting to emerge. Zebrafish, an important model system for early development, have already contributed important advances in understanding the developmental consequences of perturbation in 3D genome organisation. Zebrafish have been used to determine the effects of mutations in proteins responsible for 3D genome organisation: cohesin and CTCF. In this review, we highlight research to date from zebrafish that has provided insight into how 3D genome organisation contributes to tissue-specific gene regulation and embryo development.
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15
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Smirnova A, Mentor A, Ranefall P, Bornehag CG, Brunström B, Mattsson A, Jönsson M. Increased apoptosis, reduced Wnt/β-catenin signaling, and altered tail development in zebrafish embryos exposed to a human-relevant chemical mixture. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 264:128467. [PMID: 33032226 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
A wide variety of anthropogenic chemicals is detected in humans and wildlife and the health effects of various chemical exposures are not well understood. Early life stages are generally the most susceptible to chemical disruption and developmental exposure can cause disease in adulthood, but the mechanistic understanding of such effects is poor. Within the EU project EDC-MixRisk, a chemical mixture (Mixture G) was identified in the Swedish pregnancy cohort SELMA by the inverse association between levels in women at around gestational week ten with birth weight of their children. This mixture was composed of mono-ethyl phthalate, mono-butyl phthalate, mono-benzyl phthalate, mono-ethylhexyl phthalate, mono-isononyl phthalate, triclosan, perfluorohexane sulfonate, perfluorooctanoic acid, and perfluorooctane sulfonate. In a series of experimental studies, we characterized effects of Mixture G on early development in zebrafish models. Here, we studied apoptosis and Wnt/β-catenin signaling which are two evolutionarily conserved signaling pathways of crucial importance during development. We determined effects on apoptosis by measuring TUNEL staining, caspase-3 activity, and acridine orange staining in wildtype zebrafish embryos, while Wnt/β-catenin signaling was assayed using a transgenic line expressing an EGFP reporter at β-catenin-regulated promoters. We found that Mixture G increased apoptosis, suppressed Wnt/β-catenin signaling in the caudal fin, and altered the shape of the caudal fin at water concentrations only 20-100 times higher than the geometric mean serum concentration in the human cohort. These findings call for awareness that pollutant mixtures like mixture G may interfere with a variety of developmental processes, possibly resulting in adverse health effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Smirnova
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; The Centre for Reproductive Biology in Uppsala (CRU), Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna Mentor
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; The Centre for Reproductive Biology in Uppsala (CRU), Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Petter Ranefall
- SciLifeLab BioImage Informatics Facility, and Dept of Information Technology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Carl-Gustaf Bornehag
- Public Health Sciences, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
| | - Björn Brunström
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; The Centre for Reproductive Biology in Uppsala (CRU), Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna Mattsson
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; The Centre for Reproductive Biology in Uppsala (CRU), Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Maria Jönsson
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; The Centre for Reproductive Biology in Uppsala (CRU), Uppsala, Sweden.
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16
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Luo Y, Wang J, Bai X, Xiao H, Tao W, Zhou L, Wang D, Wei J. Differential expression patterns of the two paralogous Rec8 from Nile tilapia and their responsiveness to retinoic acid signaling. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2021; 253:110563. [PMID: 33482354 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2021.110563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
REC8 (meiotic recombination protein 8) is an essential component of meiotic cohesion complexes. Interestingly, two paralogous rec8 genes happen to exist in the stra8 (stimulated by retinoic acid gene 8)-absent fishes but not in stra8-existing fishes. Stra8 is usually considered as the prerequirement during RA (retinoic acid)-mediated meiosis initiation in mammals. However, how RA triggers meiosis in the stra8-absent fishes just like Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) remains elusive. Here we characterized the two paralogous rec8 genes in Nile tilapia (Onrec8a and Onrec8b), and investigated their expression patterns and responsiveness to RA signaling by treatment of ex vivo testicular culture and promoter luciferase reporter assay. OnRec8a and OnRec8b share 36% identity to each other and are true orthologs of REC8. Their expression was predominantly restricted to meiotic germline cells with differential spatiotemporal patterns. During spermatogenesis, OnRec8b predominantly exhibited nuclear expression in spermatocytes from 60 dah (days after hatching), while OnRec8a exhibited cytoplasmic expression from 90 dah. During oogenesis, OnRec8a was expressed from 30 dah, while OnRec8b from 90 dah. Further study shows that RA signaling could upregulate the expression of both Onrec8a and Onrec8b. Collectively, our data implies that OnRec8a and OnRec8b might have differential function during meiosis and be involved in RA-mediated meiosis program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yubing Luo
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, Laboratory of Aquatic Science of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, 400715 Chongqing, China; Lijia Middle School, Chongqing, 401122 Chongqing, China
| | - Jie Wang
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, Laboratory of Aquatic Science of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, 400715 Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaoming Bai
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, Laboratory of Aquatic Science of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, 400715 Chongqing, China
| | - Hesheng Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, Laboratory of Aquatic Science of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, 400715 Chongqing, China
| | - Wenjing Tao
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, Laboratory of Aquatic Science of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, 400715 Chongqing, China
| | - Linyan Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, Laboratory of Aquatic Science of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, 400715 Chongqing, China
| | - Deshou Wang
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, Laboratory of Aquatic Science of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, 400715 Chongqing, China.
| | - Jing Wei
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, Laboratory of Aquatic Science of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, 400715 Chongqing, China.
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17
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Ketharnathan S, Labudina A, Horsfield JA. Cohesin Components Stag1 and Stag2 Differentially Influence Haematopoietic Mesoderm Development in Zebrafish Embryos. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:617545. [PMID: 33365313 PMCID: PMC7750468 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.617545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cohesin is a multiprotein complex made up of core subunits Smc1, Smc3, and Rad21, and either Stag1 or Stag2. Normal haematopoietic development relies on crucial functions of cohesin in cell division and regulation of gene expression via three-dimensional chromatin organization. Cohesin subunit STAG2 is frequently mutated in myeloid malignancies, but the individual contributions of Stag variants to haematopoiesis or malignancy are not fully understood. Zebrafish have four Stag paralogues (Stag1a, Stag1b, Stag2a, and Stag2b), allowing detailed genetic dissection of the contribution of Stag1-cohesin and Stag2-cohesin to development. Here we characterize for the first time the expression patterns and functions of zebrafish stag genes during embryogenesis. Using loss-of-function CRISPR-Cas9 zebrafish mutants, we show that stag1a and stag2b contribute to primitive embryonic haematopoiesis. Both stag1a and stag2b mutants present with erythropenia by 24 h post-fertilization. Homozygous loss of either paralogue alters the number of haematopoietic/vascular progenitors in the lateral plate mesoderm. The lateral plate mesoderm zone of scl-positive cells is expanded in stag1a mutants with concomitant loss of kidney progenitors, and the number of spi1-positive cells are increased, consistent with skewing toward primitive myelopoiesis. In contrast, stag2b mutants have reduced haematopoietic/vascular mesoderm and downregulation of primitive erythropoiesis. Our results suggest that Stag1 and Stag2 proteins cooperate to balance the production of primitive haematopoietic/vascular progenitors from mesoderm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarada Ketharnathan
- Department of Pathology, Otago Medical School, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Anastasia Labudina
- Department of Pathology, Otago Medical School, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Julia A Horsfield
- Department of Pathology, Otago Medical School, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Maurice Wilkins Center for Molecular Biodiscovery, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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18
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Mfarej MG, Skibbens RV. An ever-changing landscape in Roberts syndrome biology: Implications for macromolecular damage. PLoS Genet 2020; 16:e1009219. [PMID: 33382686 PMCID: PMC7774850 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Roberts syndrome (RBS) is a rare developmental disorder that can include craniofacial abnormalities, limb malformations, missing digits, intellectual disabilities, stillbirth, and early mortality. The genetic basis for RBS is linked to autosomal recessive loss-of-function mutation of the establishment of cohesion (ESCO) 2 acetyltransferase. ESCO2 is an essential gene that targets the DNA-binding cohesin complex. ESCO2 acetylates alternate subunits of cohesin to orchestrate vital cellular processes that include sister chromatid cohesion, chromosome condensation, transcription, and DNA repair. Although significant advances were made over the last 20 years in our understanding of ESCO2 and cohesin biology, the molecular etiology of RBS remains ambiguous. In this review, we highlight current models of RBS and reflect on data that suggests a novel role for macromolecular damage in the molecular etiology of RBS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael G. Mfarej
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Robert V. Skibbens
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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19
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Idilli AI, Pazzi C, dal Pozzolo F, Roccuzzo M, Mione MC. Rad21 Haploinsufficiency Prevents ALT-Associated Phenotypes in Zebrafish Brain Tumors. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:E1442. [PMID: 33266037 PMCID: PMC7760354 DOI: 10.3390/genes11121442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Cohesin is a protein complex consisting of four core subunits responsible for sister chromatid cohesion in mitosis and meiosis, and for 3D genome organization and gene expression through the establishment of long distance interactions regulating transcriptional activity in the interphase. Both roles are important for telomere integrity, but the role of cohesin in telomere maintenance mechanisms in highly replicating cancer cells in vivo is poorly studied. Here we used a zebrafish model of brain tumor, which uses alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) as primary telomere maintenance mechanism to test whether haploinsufficiency for Rad21, a member of the cohesin ring, affects ALT development. We found that a reduction in Rad21 levels prevents ALT-associated phenotypes in zebrafish brain tumors and triggers an increase in tert expression. Despite the rescue of ALT phenotypes, tumor cells in rad21+/- fish exhibit an increase in DNA damage foci, probably due to a reduction in double-strand breaks repair efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurora Irene Idilli
- Experimental Cancer Biology, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology-CIBIO, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy; (A.I.I.); (C.P.); (F.d.P.)
| | - Cecilia Pazzi
- Experimental Cancer Biology, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology-CIBIO, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy; (A.I.I.); (C.P.); (F.d.P.)
| | - Francesca dal Pozzolo
- Experimental Cancer Biology, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology-CIBIO, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy; (A.I.I.); (C.P.); (F.d.P.)
| | - Michela Roccuzzo
- Advanced Imaging Facility, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology-CIBIO, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy;
| | - Maria Caterina Mione
- Experimental Cancer Biology, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology-CIBIO, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy; (A.I.I.); (C.P.); (F.d.P.)
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20
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Cheng H, Zhang N, Pati D. Cohesin subunit RAD21: From biology to disease. Gene 2020; 758:144966. [PMID: 32687945 PMCID: PMC7949736 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2020.144966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
RAD21 (also known as KIAA0078, NXP1, HR21, Mcd1, Scc1, and hereafter called RAD21), an essential gene, encodes a DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair protein that is evolutionarily conserved in all eukaryotes from budding yeast to humans. RAD21 protein is a structural component of the highly conserved cohesin complex consisting of RAD21, SMC1a, SMC3, and SCC3 [STAG1 (SA1) and STAG2 (SA2) in metazoans] proteins, involved in sister chromatid cohesion. This function is essential for proper chromosome segregation, post-replicative DNA repair, and prevention of inappropriate recombination between repetitive regions. In interphase, cohesin also functions in the control of gene expression by binding to numerous sites within the genome. In addition to playing roles in the normal cell cycle and DNA DSB repair, RAD21 is also linked to the apoptotic pathways. Germline heterozygous or homozygous missense mutations in RAD21 have been associated with human genetic disorders, including developmental diseases such as Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) and chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) called Mungan syndrome, respectively, and collectively termed as cohesinopathies. Somatic mutations and amplification of the RAD21 have also been widely reported in both human solid and hematopoietic tumors. Considering the role of RAD21 in a broad range of cellular processes that are hot spots in neoplasm, it is not surprising that the deregulation of RAD21 has been increasingly evident in human cancers. Herein, we review the biology of RAD21 and the cellular processes that this important protein regulates and discuss the significance of RAD21 deregulation in cancer and cohesinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haizi Cheng
- Texas Children's Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Nenggang Zhang
- Texas Children's Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Debananda Pati
- Texas Children's Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States; Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States.
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21
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Abstract
Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes (SMCs) are part of a large family of ring complexes that participates in a number of DNA transactions. Among SMCs, SMC1A gene is unique. It encodes a subunit of the cohesin-core complex that tethers sister chromatids together to ensure correct chromosome segregation in both mitosis and meiosis. As a member of the cohesin ring, SMC1A takes part in gene transcription regulation and genome organization; and it participates in the DNA Damage Repair (DDR) pathway, being phosphorylated by Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM) and Ataxia Telangiectasia and Rad3 Related (ATR) threonine/serine kinases. It is also a component of the Recombination protein complex (RC-1) involved in DNA repair by recombination. SMC1A pathogenic variants have been described in Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS), a human rare disease, and recently SMC1A variants have been associated with epilepsy or resembling Rett syndrome phenotype. Finally, SMC1A variants have been identified in several human cancers. In this review, our current knowledge of the SMC1A gene has been summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Musio
- Institute for Genetic and Biomedical Research (IRGB), National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, Italy.
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22
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Demarcation of Topologically Associating Domains Is Uncoupled from Enriched CTCF Binding in Developing Zebrafish. iScience 2020; 23:101046. [PMID: 32334414 PMCID: PMC7182764 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2019] [Revised: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) is a conserved architectural protein that plays crucial roles in gene regulation and three-dimensional (3D) chromatin organization. To better understand mechanisms and evolution of vertebrate genome organization, we analyzed genome occupancy of CTCF in zebrafish utilizing an endogenously epitope-tagged CTCF knock-in allele. Zebrafish CTCF shares similar facets with its mammalian counterparts, including binding to enhancers, active promoters and repeat elements, and bipartite sequence motifs of its binding sites. However, we found that in vivo CTCF binding is not enriched at boundaries of topologically associating domains (TADs) in developing zebrafish, whereas TAD demarcation by chromatin marks did not differ from mammals. Our data suggest that general mechanisms underlying 3D chromatin organization, and in particular the involvement of CTCF in this process, differ between distant vertebrate species. Identification of CTCF occupancy in zebrafish embryos using a tagged ctcf allele CTCF binding at promoters correlates with gene expression levels No general CTCF enrichment at topological domain boundaries in zebrafish embryos
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Abstract
An important capacity of genes is the rapid change of expression levels to cope with the environment, known as expression responsiveness or plasticity. Elucidating the genomic mechanisms determining expression plasticity is critical for understanding the molecular basis of phenotypic plasticity, fitness and adaptation. In this study, we systematically quantified gene expression plasticity in four metazoan species by integrating changes of expression levels under a large number of genetic and environmental conditions. From this, we demonstrated that expression plasticity measures a distinct feature of gene expression that is orthogonal to other well-studied features, including gene expression level and tissue specificity/broadness. Expression plasticity is conserved across species with important physiological implications. The magnitude of expression plasticity is highly correlated with gene function and genes with high plasticity are implicated in disease susceptibility. Genome-wide analysis identified many conserved promoter cis-elements, trans-acting factors (such as CTCF), and gene body histone modifications (H3K36me3, H3K79me2 and H4K20me1) that are significantly associated with expression plasticity. Analysis of expression changes in perturbation experiments further validated a causal role of specific transcription factors and histone modifications. Collectively, this work reveals the general properties, physiological implications and multivariable regulation of gene expression plasticity in metazoans, extending the mechanistic understanding of gene regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 10049, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiguang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 10049, People's Republic of China
| | - Fei He
- Biology Department, Brookhaven National Lab, Upton, NY 11967, USA
| | - Zhuo Du
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 10049, People's Republic of China
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24
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Romero-Pérez L, Surdez D, Brunet E, Delattre O, Grünewald TGP. STAG Mutations in Cancer. Trends Cancer 2019; 5:506-520. [PMID: 31421907 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2019.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Revised: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Stromal Antigen 1 and 2 (STAG1/2) are key subunits of the cohesin complex that mediate sister chromatid cohesion, DNA repair, transcriptional regulation, and genome topology. Genetic alterations comprising any of the 11 cohesin-associated genes possibly occur in up to 26% of patients included in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) studies. STAG2 shows the highest number of putative driver truncating mutations. We provide a comprehensive review of the function of STAG1/2 in human physiology and disease and an integrative analysis of available omics data on STAG alterations in a wide array of cancers, comprising 53 691 patients and 1067 cell lines. Lastly, we discuss opportunities for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Romero-Pérez
- Max-Eder Research Group for Pediatric Sarcoma Biology, Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Didier Surdez
- INSERM U830, Équipe Labellisé LNCC "Genetics and Biology of Pediatric Cancers", fhna PSL Université, SIREDO Oncology Centre, Institut Curie, Paris, France
| | - Erika Brunet
- Institut Imagine, INSERM UMR1163, Équipe Labellisé LNCC, Dynamics of the Genome and Immune System Lab, Paris, France
| | - Olivier Delattre
- INSERM U830, Équipe Labellisé LNCC "Genetics and Biology of Pediatric Cancers", fhna PSL Université, SIREDO Oncology Centre, Institut Curie, Paris, France
| | - Thomas G P Grünewald
- Max-Eder Research Group for Pediatric Sarcoma Biology, Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, LMU, Munich, Germany; Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Munich, Munich, Germany; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
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25
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Sarogni P, Palumbo O, Servadio A, Astigiano S, D'Alessio B, Gatti V, Cukrov D, Baldari S, Pallotta MM, Aretini P, Dell'Orletta F, Soddu S, Carella M, Toietta G, Barbieri O, Fontanini G, Musio A. Overexpression of the cohesin-core subunit SMC1A contributes to colorectal cancer development. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2019; 38:108. [PMID: 30823889 PMCID: PMC6397456 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-019-1116-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer cells are characterized by chromosomal instability (CIN) and it is thought that errors in pathways involved in faithful chromosome segregation play a pivotal role in the genesis of CIN. Cohesin forms a large protein ring that binds DNA strands by encircling them. In addition to this central role in chromosome segregation, cohesin is also needed for DNA repair, gene transcription regulation and chromatin architecture. Though mutations in both cohesin and cohesin-regulator genes have been identified in many human cancers, the contribution of cohesin to cancer development is still under debate. METHODS Normal mucosa, early adenoma, and carcinoma samples deriving from 16 subjects affected by colorectal cancer (CRC) were analyzed by OncoScan for scoring both chromosome gains and losses (CNVs) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH). Then the expression of SMC1A was analyzed by immunochemistry in 66 subjects affected by CRC. The effects of SMC1A overexpression and mutated SMC1A were analyzed in vivo using immunocompromised mouse models. Finally, we measured global gene expression profiles in induced-tumors by RNA-seq. RESULTS Here we showed that SMC1A cohesin core gene was present as extra-copies, mutated, and overexpressed in human colorectal carcinomas. We then demonstrated that cohesin overexpression led to the development of aggressive cancers in immunocompromised mice through gene expression dysregulation. CONCLUSION Collectively, these results support a role of defective cohesin in the development of human colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrizia Sarogni
- Institute for Genetic and Biomedical Research (IRGB), National Research Council (CNR), Via Moruzzi, 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Orazio Palumbo
- Division of Medical Genetics, IRCCS "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza", San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Adele Servadio
- Division of Pathology, Department of Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Simonetta Astigiano
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Department of Translational Oncology, Genoa, Italy
| | - Barbara D'Alessio
- Institute for Genetic and Biomedical Research (IRGB), National Research Council (CNR), Via Moruzzi, 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Veronica Gatti
- IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostic and Technological Innovation, Rome, Italy.,Present address: Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, National Research Council (CNR), Monterotondo, Italy
| | - Dubravka Cukrov
- Institute for Genetic and Biomedical Research (IRGB), National Research Council (CNR), Via Moruzzi, 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Silvia Baldari
- IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostic and Technological Innovation, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Michela Pallotta
- Institute for Genetic and Biomedical Research (IRGB), National Research Council (CNR), Via Moruzzi, 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Paolo Aretini
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza ONLUS, San Giuliano Terme, Italy
| | - Felice Dell'Orletta
- Institute for Computational Linguistics (ILC) "A. Zampolli", National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, Italy
| | - Silvia Soddu
- IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostic and Technological Innovation, Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Carella
- Division of Medical Genetics, IRCCS "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza", San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Gabriele Toietta
- IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostic and Technological Innovation, Rome, Italy
| | - Ottavia Barbieri
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Gabriella Fontanini
- Division of Pathology, Department of Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Antonio Musio
- Institute for Genetic and Biomedical Research (IRGB), National Research Council (CNR), Via Moruzzi, 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy.
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26
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Abstract
Condensins and cohesins are highly conserved complexes that tether together DNA loci within a single DNA molecule to produce DNA loops. Condensin and cohesin structures, however, are different, and the DNA loops produced by each underlie distinct cell processes. Condensin rods compact chromosomes during mitosis, with condensin I and II complexes producing spatially defined and nested looping in metazoan cells. Structurally adaptive cohesin rings produce loops, which organize the genome during interphase. Cohesin-mediated loops, termed topologically associating domains or TADs, antagonize the formation of epigenetically defined but untethered DNA volumes, termed compartments. While condensin complexes formed through cis-interactions must maintain chromatin compaction throughout mitosis, cohesins remain highly dynamic during interphase to allow for transcription-mediated responses to external cues and the execution of developmental programs. Here, I review differences in condensin and cohesin structures, and highlight recent advances regarding the intramolecular or cis-based tetherings through which condensins compact DNA during mitosis and cohesins organize the genome during interphase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert V Skibbens
- Department of Biological Sciences, 111 Research Drive, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA
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27
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Bottai D, Spreafico M, Pistocchi A, Fazio G, Adami R, Grazioli P, Canu A, Bragato C, Rigamonti S, Parodi C, Cazzaniga G, Biondi A, Cotelli F, Selicorni A, Massa V. Modeling Cornelia de Lange syndrome in vitro and in vivo reveals a role for cohesin complex in neuronal survival and differentiation. Hum Mol Genet 2019; 28:64-73. [PMID: 30239720 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddy329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 09/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS), which is reported to affect ∼1 in 10 000 to 30 000 newborns, is a multisystem organ developmental disorder with relatively mild to severe effects. Among others, intellectual disability represents an important feature of this condition. CdLS can result from mutations in at least five genes: nipped-B-like protein, structural maintenance of chromosomes 1A, structural maintenance of chromosomes 3, RAD21 cohesin complex component and histone deacetylase 8 (HDAC8). It is believed that mutations in these genes cause CdLS by impairing the function of the cohesin complex (to which all the aforementioned genes contribute to the structure or function), disrupting gene regulation during critical stages of early development. Since intellectual disorder might result from alterations in neural development, in this work, we studied the role of Hdac8 gene in mouse neural stem cells (NSCs) and in vertebrate (Danio rerio) brain development by knockdown and chemical inhibition experiments. Underlying features of Hdac8 deficiency is an increased cell death in the developing neural tissues, either in mouse NSCs or in zebrafish embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Bottai
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Spreafico
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Anna Pistocchi
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Grazia Fazio
- Centro Ricerca Tettamanti, Clinica Pediatrica, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Fondazione MBBM/Ospedale S. Gerardo, Monza, Italy
| | - Raffaella Adami
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Grazioli
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Adriana Canu
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Cinzia Bragato
- Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico C. Besta, Milano, Italy
- PhD program in Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Silvia Rigamonti
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Centro Ricerca Tettamanti, Clinica Pediatrica, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Fondazione MBBM/Ospedale S. Gerardo, Monza, Italy
| | - Chiara Parodi
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianni Cazzaniga
- Centro Ricerca Tettamanti, Clinica Pediatrica, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Fondazione MBBM/Ospedale S. Gerardo, Monza, Italy
| | - Andrea Biondi
- Clinica Pediatrica, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Fondazione MBBM/Ospedale S. Gerardo, Monza, Italy
| | - Franco Cotelli
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Valentina Massa
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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28
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Carmona-Aldana F, Zampedri C, Suaste-Olmos F, Murillo-de-Ozores A, Guerrero G, Arzate-Mejía R, Maldonado E, Navarro RE, Chimal-Monroy J, Recillas-Targa F. CTCF knockout reveals an essential role for this protein during the zebrafish development. Mech Dev 2018; 154:51-59. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mod.2018.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2018] [Revised: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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29
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Meier M, Grant J, Dowdle A, Thomas A, Gerton J, Collas P, O'Sullivan JM, Horsfield JA. Cohesin facilitates zygotic genome activation in zebrafish. Development 2018; 145:dev156521. [PMID: 29158440 DOI: 10.1242/dev.156521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2017] [Accepted: 11/07/2017] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
At zygotic genome activation (ZGA), changes in chromatin structure are associated with new transcription immediately following the maternal-to-zygotic transition (MZT). The nuclear architectural proteins cohesin and CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) contribute to chromatin structure and gene regulation. We show here that normal cohesin function is important for ZGA in zebrafish. Depletion of the cohesin subunit Rad21 delays ZGA without affecting cell cycle progression. In contrast, CTCF depletion has little effect on ZGA, whereas complete abrogation is lethal. Genome-wide analysis of Rad21 binding reveals a change in distribution from pericentromeric satellite DNA and other locations, including the miR-430 locus (the products of which are responsible for maternal transcript degradation), to genes, as embryos progress through the MZT. After MZT, a subset of Rad21 binding overlaps the pioneer factor Pou5f3, which activates early expressed genes. Rad21 depletion disrupts the formation of nucleoli and RNA polymerase II foci, suggestive of global defects in chromosome architecture. We propose that Rad21/cohesin redistribution to active areas of the genome is key to the establishment of chromosome organization and the embryonic developmental program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Meier
- Department of Pathology, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
| | - Jenny Grant
- Department of Pathology, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
| | - Amy Dowdle
- Department of Pathology, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
| | - Amarni Thomas
- Department of Pathology, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
| | - Jennifer Gerton
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 E 50th Street, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Philippe Collas
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo 0316, Norway
| | - Justin M O'Sullivan
- Liggins Institute, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Julia A Horsfield
- Department of Pathology, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
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30
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Banerji R, Skibbens RV, Iovine MK. How many roads lead to cohesinopathies? Dev Dyn 2017; 246:881-888. [PMID: 28422453 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2016] [Revised: 03/10/2017] [Accepted: 04/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic mapping studies reveal that mutations in cohesion pathways are responsible for multispectrum developmental abnormalities termed cohesinopathies. These include Roberts syndrome (RBS), Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS), and Warsaw Breakage Syndrome (WABS). The cohesinopathies are characterized by overlapping phenotypes ranging from craniofacial deformities, limb defects, and mental retardation. Though these syndromes share a similar suite of phenotypes and arise due to mutations in a common cohesion pathway, the underlying mechanisms are currently believed to be distinct. Defects in mitotic failure and apoptosis i.e. trans DNA tethering events are believed to be the underlying cause of RBS, whereas the underlying cause of CdLS is largely modeled as occurring through defects in transcriptional processes i.e. cis DNA tethering events. Here, we review recent findings described primarily in zebrafish, paired with additional studies in other model systems, including human patient cells, which challenge the notion that cohesinopathies represent separate syndromes. We highlight numerous studies that illustrate the utility of zebrafish to provide novel insights into the phenotypes, genes affected and the possible mechanisms underlying cohesinopathies. We propose that transcriptional deregulation is the predominant mechanism through which cohesinopathies arise. Developmental Dynamics 246:881-888, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajeswari Banerji
- Department of Biological Science, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
| | - Robert V Skibbens
- Department of Biological Science, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
| | - M Kathryn Iovine
- Department of Biological Science, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
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31
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Rohban S, Cerutti A, Morelli MJ, d'Adda di Fagagna F, Campaner S. The cohesin complex prevents Myc-induced replication stress. Cell Death Dis 2017; 8:e2956. [PMID: 28749464 PMCID: PMC5550886 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2017.345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2017] [Revised: 06/20/2017] [Accepted: 06/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The cohesin complex is mutated in cancer and in a number of rare syndromes collectively known as Cohesinopathies. In the latter case, cohesin deficiencies have been linked to transcriptional alterations affecting Myc and its target genes. Here, we set out to understand to what extent the role of cohesins in controlling cell cycle is dependent on Myc expression and activity. Inactivation of the cohesin complex by silencing the RAD21 subunit led to cell cycle arrest due to both transcriptional impairment of Myc target genes and alterations of replication forks, which were fewer and preferentially unidirectional. Ectopic activation of Myc in RAD21 depleted cells rescued Myc-dependent transcription and promoted S-phase entry but failed to sustain S-phase progression due to a strong replicative stress response, which was associated to a robust DNA damage response, DNA damage checkpoint activation and synthetic lethality. Thus, the cohesin complex is dispensable for Myc-dependent transcription but essential to prevent Myc-induced replicative stress. This suggests the presence of a feed-forward regulatory loop where cohesins by regulating Myc level control S-phase entry and prevent replicative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Rohban
- Center for Genomic Science of IIT@SEMM, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Via Adamello 16, 20139 Milan, Italy
| | - Aurora Cerutti
- IFOM Foundation-FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology Foundation, Milan 20139, Italy
- Istituto di Genetica Molecolare, CNR – Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Marco J Morelli
- Center for Genomic Science of IIT@SEMM, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Via Adamello 16, 20139 Milan, Italy
| | - Fabrizio d'Adda di Fagagna
- IFOM Foundation-FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology Foundation, Milan 20139, Italy
- Istituto di Genetica Molecolare, CNR – Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Stefano Campaner
- Center for Genomic Science of IIT@SEMM, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Via Adamello 16, 20139 Milan, Italy
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32
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Zaytseva O, Quinn LM. Controlling the Master: Chromatin Dynamics at the MYC Promoter Integrate Developmental Signaling. Genes (Basel) 2017; 8:genes8040118. [PMID: 28398229 PMCID: PMC5406865 DOI: 10.3390/genes8040118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2017] [Revised: 03/15/2017] [Accepted: 04/07/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor and cell growth regulator MYC is potently oncogenic and estimated to contribute to most cancers. Decades of attempts to therapeutically target MYC directly have not resulted in feasible clinical applications, and efforts have moved toward indirectly targeting MYC expression, function and/or activity to treat MYC-driven cancer. A multitude of developmental and growth signaling pathways converge on the MYC promoter to modulate transcription through their downstream effectors. Critically, even small increases in MYC abundance (<2 fold) are sufficient to drive overproliferation; however, the details of how oncogenic/growth signaling networks regulate MYC at the level of transcription remain nebulous even during normal development. It is therefore essential to first decipher mechanisms of growth signal-stimulated MYC transcription using in vivo models, with intact signaling environments, to determine exactly how these networks are dysregulated in human cancer. This in turn will provide new modalities and approaches to treat MYC-driven malignancy. Drosophila genetic studies have shed much light on how complex networks signal to transcription factors and enhancers to orchestrate Drosophila MYC (dMYC) transcription, and thus growth and patterning of complex multicellular tissue and organs. This review will discuss the many pathways implicated in patterning MYC transcription during development and the molecular events at the MYC promoter that link signaling to expression. Attention will also be drawn to parallels between mammalian and fly regulation of MYC at the level of transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Zaytseva
- ACRF Department of Cancer Biology and Therapeutics, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia.
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia.
| | - Leonie M Quinn
- ACRF Department of Cancer Biology and Therapeutics, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia.
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia.
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33
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Abstract
The cohesin protein complex regulates multiple cellular events including sister chromatid cohesion and gene expression. Several distinct human diseases called cohesinopathies have been associated with genetic mutations in cohesin subunit genes or genes encoding regulators of cohesin function. Studies in different model systems, from yeast to mouse have provided insights into the molecular mechanisms of action of cohesin/cohesin regulators and their implications in the pathogenesis of cohesinopathies. The zebrafish has unique advantages for embryonic analyses and quantitative gene knockdown with morpholinos during the first few days of development, in contrast to knockouts of cohesin regulators in flies or mammals, which are either lethal as homozygotes or dramatically compensated for in heterozygotes. This has been particularly informative for Rad21, where a role in gene expression was first shown in zebrafish, and Nipbl, where the fish work revealed tissue-specific functions in heart, gut, and limbs, and long-range enhancer-promoter interactions that control Hox gene expression in vivo. Here we discuss the utility of the zebrafish in studying the developmental and pathogenic roles of cohesin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akihiko Muto
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, 739-8526, Japan.
| | - Thomas F Schilling
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
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34
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Santos R, Kawauchi S, Jacobs RE, Lopez-Burks ME, Choi H, Wikenheiser J, Hallgrimsson B, Jamniczky HA, Fraser SE, Lander AD, Calof AL. Conditional Creation and Rescue of Nipbl-Deficiency in Mice Reveals Multiple Determinants of Risk for Congenital Heart Defects. PLoS Biol 2016; 14:e2000197. [PMID: 27606604 PMCID: PMC5016002 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2000197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2016] [Accepted: 08/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Elucidating the causes of congenital heart defects is made difficult by the complex morphogenesis of the mammalian heart, which takes place early in development, involves contributions from multiple germ layers, and is controlled by many genes. Here, we use a conditional/invertible genetic strategy to identify the cell lineage(s) responsible for the development of heart defects in a Nipbl-deficient mouse model of Cornelia de Lange Syndrome, in which global yet subtle transcriptional dysregulation leads to development of atrial septal defects (ASDs) at high frequency. Using an approach that allows for recombinase-mediated creation or rescue of Nipbl deficiency in different lineages, we uncover complex interactions between the cardiac mesoderm, endoderm, and the rest of the embryo, whereby the risk conferred by genetic abnormality in any one lineage is modified, in a surprisingly non-additive way, by the status of others. We argue that these results are best understood in the context of a model in which the risk of heart defects is associated with the adequacy of early progenitor cell populations relative to the sizes of the structures they must eventually form.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosaysela Santos
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America.,Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Shimako Kawauchi
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America.,Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Russell E Jacobs
- Biological Imaging Center, Beckman Institute, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, United States of America
| | - Martha E Lopez-Burks
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America.,Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Hojae Choi
- Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Jamie Wikenheiser
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Benedikt Hallgrimsson
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Heather A Jamniczky
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Scott E Fraser
- Departments of Biology and Bioengineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Arthur D Lander
- Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America.,Biological Imaging Center, Beckman Institute, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, United States of America
| | - Anne L Calof
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America.,Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America.,Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America
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35
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Abstract
Enhancer elements function as the logic gates of the genetic regulatory circuitry. One of their most important functions is the integration of extracellular signals with intracellular cell fate information to generate cell type-specific transcriptional responses. Mutations occurring in cancer often misregulate enhancers that normally control the signal-dependent expression of growth-related genes. This misregulation can result from trans-acting mechanisms, such as activation of the transcription factors or epigenetic regulators that control enhancer activity, or can be caused in cis by direct mutations that alter the activity of the enhancer or its target gene specificity. These processes can generate tumour type-specific super-enhancers and establish a 'locked' gene regulatory state that drives the uncontrolled proliferation of cancer cells. Here, we review the role of enhancers in cancer, and their potential as therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inderpreet Sur
- Division of Functional Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, and Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm SE-171 77, Sweden
| | - Jussi Taipale
- Division of Functional Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, and Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm SE-171 77, Sweden
- Genome-Scale Biology Program, University of Helsinki, Biomedicum, PO Box 63, Helsinki 00014, Finland
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36
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Dasgupta T, Antony J, Braithwaite AW, Horsfield JA. HDAC8 Inhibition Blocks SMC3 Deacetylation and Delays Cell Cycle Progression without Affecting Cohesin-dependent Transcription in MCF7 Cancer Cells. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:12761-12770. [PMID: 27072133 PMCID: PMC4933439 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.704627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2015] [Revised: 04/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cohesin, a multi-subunit protein complex involved in chromosome organization, is frequently mutated or aberrantly expressed in cancer. Multiple functions of cohesin, including cell division and gene expression, highlight its potential as a novel therapeutic target. The SMC3 subunit of cohesin is acetylated (ac) during S phase to establish cohesion between replicated chromosomes. Following anaphase, ac-SMC3 is deacetylated by HDAC8. Reversal of SMC3 acetylation is imperative for recycling cohesin so that it can be reloaded in interphase for both non-mitotic and mitotic functions. We blocked deacetylation of ac-SMC3 using an HDAC8-specific inhibitor PCI-34051 in MCF7 breast cancer cells, and examined the effects on transcription of cohesin-dependent genes that respond to estrogen. HDAC8 inhibition led to accumulation of ac-SMC3 as expected, but surprisingly, had no influence on the transcription of estrogen-responsive genes that are altered by siRNA targeting of RAD21 or SMC3. Knockdown of RAD21 altered estrogen receptor α (ER) recruitment at SOX4 and IL20, and affected transcription of these genes, while HDAC8 inhibition did not. Rather, inhibition of HDAC8 delayed cell cycle progression, suppressed proliferation and induced apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner. We conclude that HDAC8 inhibition does not change the estrogen-specific transcriptional role of cohesin in MCF7 cells, but instead, compromises cell cycle progression and cell survival. Our results argue that candidate inhibitors of cohesin function may differ in their effects depending on the cellular genotype and should be thoroughly tested for predicted effects on cohesin's mechanistic roles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanushree Dasgupta
- From the Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, and
| | - Jisha Antony
- From the Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, and
| | - Antony W Braithwaite
- From the Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, and; Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Julia A Horsfield
- From the Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, and; Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand.
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37
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Dorsett D. The Drosophila melanogaster model for Cornelia de Lange syndrome: Implications for etiology and therapeutics. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS PART C-SEMINARS IN MEDICAL GENETICS 2016; 172:129-37. [PMID: 27097273 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.c.31490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Discovery of genetic alterations that cause human birth defects provide key opportunities to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and family counseling. Frequently, however, these opportunities are limited by the lack of knowledge about the normal functions of the affected genes. In many cases, there is more information about the gene's orthologs in model organisms, including Drosophila melanogaster. Despite almost a billion years of evolutionary divergence, over three-quarters of genes linked to human diseases have Drosophila homologs. With a short generation time, a twenty-fold smaller genome, and unique genetic tools, the conserved functions of genes are often more easily elucidated in Drosophila than in other organisms. Here we present how this applies to Cornelia de Lange syndrome, as a model for how Drosophila can be used to increase understanding of genetic syndromes caused by mutations with broad effects on gene transcription and exploited to develop novel therapies. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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38
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Xu B, Gogol M, Gaudenz K, Gerton JL. Improved transcription and translation with L-leucine stimulation of mTORC1 in Roberts syndrome. BMC Genomics 2016; 17:25. [PMID: 26729373 PMCID: PMC4700579 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-2354-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2015] [Accepted: 12/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Roberts syndrome (RBS) is a human developmental disorder caused by mutations in the cohesin acetyltransferase ESCO2. We previously reported that mTORC1 signaling was depressed and overall translation was reduced in RBS cells and zebrafish models for RBS. Treatment of RBS cells and zebrafish RBS models with L-leucine partially rescued mTOR function and protein synthesis, correlating with increased cell division and improved development. Results In this study, we use RBS cells to model mTORC1 repression and analyze transcription and translation with ribosome profiling to determine gene-level effects of L-leucine. L-leucine treatment partially rescued translational efficiency of ribosomal subunits, translation initiation factors, snoRNA production, and mitochondrial function in RBS cells, consistent with these processes being mTORC1 controlled. In contrast, other genes are differentially expressed independent of L-leucine treatment, including imprinted genes such as H19 and GTL2, miRNAs regulated by GTL2, HOX genes, and genes in nucleolar associated domains. Conclusions Our study distinguishes between gene expression changes in RBS cells that are TOR dependent and those that are independent. Some of the TOR independent gene expression changes likely reflect the architectural role of cohesin in chromatin looping and gene expression. This study reveals the dramatic rescue effects of L-leucine stimulation of mTORC1 in RBS cells and supports that normal gene expression and translation requires ESCO2 function. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-2354-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baoshan Xu
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 E 50th St, Kansas City, MO, 64110, USA.
| | - Madelaine Gogol
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 E 50th St, Kansas City, MO, 64110, USA.
| | - Karin Gaudenz
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 E 50th St, Kansas City, MO, 64110, USA.
| | - Jennifer L Gerton
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 E 50th St, Kansas City, MO, 64110, USA. .,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas School of Medicine, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA.
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Schuster K, Leeke B, Meier M, Wang Y, Newman T, Burgess S, Horsfield JA. A neural crest origin for cohesinopathy heart defects. Hum Mol Genet 2015; 24:7005-16. [PMID: 26420840 PMCID: PMC4654055 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddv402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2015] [Accepted: 09/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in subunits or regulators of cohesin cause a spectrum of disorders in humans known as the 'cohesinopathies'. Cohesinopathies, including the best known example Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS), are characterized by broad spectrum, multifactorial developmental anomalies. Heart defects occur at high frequency and can reach up to 30% in CdLS. The mechanisms by which heart defects occur are enigmatic, but assumed to be developmental in origin. In this study, we depleted cohesin subunit Rad21 by 70-80% in a zebrafish cohesinopathy model. The hearts of Rad21-depleted animals were smaller, often failed to loop, and functioned less efficiently than size-matched controls. Functional deficiency was accompanied by valve defects and reduced ejection fraction. Interestingly, neural crest cells failed to populate the heart and instead exhibited a wandering behavior. Consequently, these cells also failed to condense correctly into pharyngeal arches. Transcriptome analysis revealed that Wnt pathway, chemokine and cadherin genes are dysregulated at the time of cardiac neural crest development. Our results give insight into the etiology of heart defects in the cohesinopathies, and raise the possibility that mild mutations in cohesin genes may be causative of a fraction of congenital heart disease in human populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Schuster
- Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, The University of Otago, PO Box 913, Dunedin, New Zealand and
| | - Bryony Leeke
- Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, The University of Otago, PO Box 913, Dunedin, New Zealand and
| | - Michael Meier
- Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, The University of Otago, PO Box 913, Dunedin, New Zealand and
| | - Yizhou Wang
- Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, The University of Otago, PO Box 913, Dunedin, New Zealand and
| | - Trent Newman
- Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, The University of Otago, PO Box 913, Dunedin, New Zealand and
| | - Sean Burgess
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Julia A Horsfield
- Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, The University of Otago, PO Box 913, Dunedin, New Zealand and
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Wu Y, Gause M, Xu D, Misulovin Z, Schaaf CA, Mosarla RC, Mannino E, Shannon M, Jones E, Shi M, Chen WF, Katz OL, Sehgal A, Jongens TA, Krantz ID, Dorsett D. Drosophila Nipped-B Mutants Model Cornelia de Lange Syndrome in Growth and Behavior. PLoS Genet 2015; 11:e1005655. [PMID: 26544867 PMCID: PMC4636142 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1005655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2015] [Accepted: 10/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Individuals with Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS) display diverse developmental deficits, including slow growth, multiple limb and organ abnormalities, and intellectual disabilities. Severely-affected individuals most often have dominant loss-of-function mutations in the Nipped-B-Like (NIPBL) gene, and milder cases often have missense or in-frame deletion mutations in genes encoding subunits of the cohesin complex. Cohesin mediates sister chromatid cohesion to facilitate accurate chromosome segregation, and NIPBL is required for cohesin to bind to chromosomes. Individuals with CdLS, however, do not display overt cohesion or segregation defects. Rather, studies in human cells and model organisms indicate that modest decreases in NIPBL and cohesin activity alter the transcription of many genes that regulate growth and development. Sister chromatid cohesion factors, including the Nipped-B ortholog of NIPBL, are also critical for gene expression and development in Drosophila melanogaster. Here we describe how a modest reduction in Nipped-B activity alters growth and neurological function in Drosophila. These studies reveal that Nipped-B heterozygous mutant Drosophila show reduced growth, learning, and memory, and altered circadian rhythms. Importantly, the growth deficits are not caused by changes in systemic growth controls, but reductions in cell number and size attributable in part to reduced expression of myc (diminutive) and other growth control genes. The learning, memory and circadian deficits are accompanied by morphological abnormalities in brain structure. These studies confirm that Drosophila Nipped-B mutants provide a useful model for understanding CdLS, and provide new insights into the origins of birth defects. Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS) alters many aspects of growth and development. CdLS is caused by mutations in genes encoding proteins that ensure that chromosomes are distributed equally when a cell divides. These include genes that encode components of the cohesin complex, and Nipped-B-Like (NIPBL) that puts cohesin onto chromosomes. Individuals with CdLS have only modest reductions in the activities of these genes and do not show changes in chromosome distribution. Instead, they show differences in the expression many genes that control development. Animal models of CdLS will be useful for studies aimed at understanding how development is altered, and testing methods for treating CdLS. We find that Drosophila with one mutant copy of the Nipped-B gene, which is equivalent to the NIPBL gene, show characteristics similar to individuals with CdLS. These include reduced growth, learning, memory, and altered circadian rhythms. These studies thus indicate that Drosophila Nipped-B mutants are a valuable system for investigating the causes of the CdLS birth defects, and developing potential treatments. They also reveal that the slow growth in Drosophila Nipped-B mutants is not caused by disruption of systemic hormonal growth controls, and that the learning and memory deficits may reflect changes in brain structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaning Wu
- Division of Human Genetics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Maria Gause
- Edward A Doisy Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Dongbin Xu
- Division of Human Genetics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Ziva Misulovin
- Edward A Doisy Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Cheri A. Schaaf
- Edward A Doisy Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Ramya C. Mosarla
- Division of Human Genetics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth Mannino
- Division of Human Genetics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Megan Shannon
- Division of Human Genetics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Emily Jones
- Division of Human Genetics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Mi Shi
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Wen-Feng Chen
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Olivia L. Katz
- Division of Human Genetics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Amita Sehgal
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Thomas A. Jongens
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Ian D. Krantz
- Division of Human Genetics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail: (IDK); (DD)
| | - Dale Dorsett
- Edward A Doisy Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America
- * E-mail: (IDK); (DD)
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Zakari M, Yuen K, Gerton JL. Etiology and pathogenesis of the cohesinopathies. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2015; 4:489-504. [PMID: 25847322 PMCID: PMC6680315 DOI: 10.1002/wdev.190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2014] [Revised: 03/02/2015] [Accepted: 03/03/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Cohesin is a chromosome-associated protein complex that plays many important roles in chromosome function. Genetic screens in yeast originally identified cohesin as a key regulator of chromosome segregation. Subsequently, work by various groups has identified cohesin as critical for additional processes such as DNA damage repair, insulator function, gene regulation, and chromosome condensation. Mutations in the genes encoding cohesin and its accessory factors result in a group of developmental and intellectual impairment diseases termed 'cohesinopathies.' How mutations in cohesin genes cause disease is not well understood as precocious chromosome segregation is not a common feature in cells derived from patients with these syndromes. In this review, the latest findings concerning cohesin's function in the organization of chromosome structure and gene regulation are discussed. We propose that the cohesinopathies are caused by changes in gene expression that can negatively impact translation. The similarities and differences between cohesinopathies and ribosomopathies, diseases caused by defects in ribosome biogenesis, are discussed. The contribution of cohesin and its accessory proteins to gene expression programs that support translation suggests that cohesin provides a means of coupling chromosome structure with the translational output of cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Musinu Zakari
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, USA
- Universite Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France
| | - Kobe Yuen
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Jennifer L Gerton
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, KS, USA
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Xu W, Ying Y, Shan L, Feng J, Zhang S, Gao Y, Xu X, Yao Y, Zhu C, Mao W. Enhanced expression of cohesin loading factor NIPBL confers poor prognosis and chemotherapy resistance in non-small cell lung cancer. J Transl Med 2015; 13:153. [PMID: 25963978 PMCID: PMC4438579 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-015-0503-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2014] [Accepted: 04/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND NIPBL, the sister chromatid cohesion 2 (SCC2) human homolog, is a cohesin loading factor which is essential for deposition of cohesin onto the sister chromatid. Recent studies have shown that NIPBL contribute to sister chromatid cohesion and plays a critical role in development, DNA repair, and gene regulation. In this study, we measured the expression of NIPBL in clinical non-small cell lung cancer specimens, and determined its effects on cellular processes and chemosensitivity in vitro. METHODS NIPBL immunohistochemistry was performed on 123 lung adenocarcinoma samples. Through knockdown of NIPBL protein expression, non-small cell lung cancer cell lines were used to test the potential involvement of NIPBL silencing on cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis. Chemosensitivity was assessed with clonogenic assays, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays were performed to analyze the relationship between NIPBL and signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3). RESULTS Immunohistochemical analysis showed that high expression of NIPBL was strongly correlated with poor prognosis, tumor differentiation, and lymph node metastasis. Survival analysis further indicated that NIPBL expression was a potential prognostic factor for non-small cell lung cancer. Knockdown of NIPBL in non-small cell lung cancer cell lines significantly reduced cellular proliferation, migration, and invasion, and enhanced cellular apoptosis and sensitivity to cisplatin, paclitaxel, and gemcitabine hydrochloride. NIPBL bound to the promoter region of the STAT3 gene, directly regulating the expression of STAT3. CONCLUSIONS These data suggested that NIPBL played a significant role in lung carcinogenesis. NIPBL expression conferred poor prognosis and resistance to chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer, suggesting that NIPBL may be a novel therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weizhen Xu
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment Technology on Thoracic Oncology (Lung and Esophagus), 38, Guangji Load, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310022, China.
- Cancer Research Institute, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, 38, Guangji Load, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310022, China.
| | - Yinyin Ying
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment Technology on Thoracic Oncology (Lung and Esophagus), 38, Guangji Load, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310022, China.
| | - Lihong Shan
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment Technology on Thoracic Oncology (Lung and Esophagus), 38, Guangji Load, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310022, China.
| | - Jianguo Feng
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment Technology on Thoracic Oncology (Lung and Esophagus), 38, Guangji Load, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310022, China.
- Cancer Research Institute, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, 38, Guangji Load, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310022, China.
| | - Shengjie Zhang
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment Technology on Thoracic Oncology (Lung and Esophagus), 38, Guangji Load, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310022, China.
- Cancer Research Institute, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, 38, Guangji Load, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310022, China.
| | - Yun Gao
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment Technology on Thoracic Oncology (Lung and Esophagus), 38, Guangji Load, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310022, China.
- Cancer Research Institute, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, 38, Guangji Load, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310022, China.
| | - Xiaoling Xu
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment Technology on Thoracic Oncology (Lung and Esophagus), 38, Guangji Load, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310022, China.
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, 38, Guangji Load, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310022, China.
| | - Yinli Yao
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment Technology on Thoracic Oncology (Lung and Esophagus), 38, Guangji Load, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310022, China.
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, 38, Guangji Load, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310022, China.
| | - Chihong Zhu
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment Technology on Thoracic Oncology (Lung and Esophagus), 38, Guangji Load, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310022, China.
- Cancer Research Institute, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, 38, Guangji Load, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310022, China.
| | - Weimin Mao
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment Technology on Thoracic Oncology (Lung and Esophagus), 38, Guangji Load, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310022, China.
- Cancer Research Institute, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, 38, Guangji Load, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310022, China.
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, 38, Guangji Load, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310022, China.
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Cornelia de Lange Syndrome: A Variable Disorder of Cohesin Pathology. CURRENT GENETIC MEDICINE REPORTS 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s40142-015-0065-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Antony J, Dasgupta T, Rhodes JM, McEwan MV, Print CG, O'Sullivan JM, Horsfield JA. Cohesin modulates transcription of estrogen-responsive genes. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA 2015; 1849:257-69. [PMID: 25542856 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2014.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2014] [Revised: 11/24/2014] [Accepted: 12/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The cohesin complex has essential roles in cell division, DNA damage repair and gene transcription. The transcriptional function of cohesin is thought to derive from its ability to connect distant regulatory elements with gene promoters. Genome-wide binding of cohesin in breast cancer cells frequently coincides with estrogen receptor alpha (ER), leading to the hypothesis that cohesin facilitates estrogen-dependent gene transcription. We found that cohesin modulates the expression of only a subset of genes in the ER transcription program, either activating or repressing transcription depending on the gene target. Estrogen-responsive genes most significantly influenced by cohesin were enriched in pathways associated with breast cancer progression such as PI3K and ErbB1. In MCF7 breast cancer cells, cohesin depletion enhanced transcription of TFF1 and TFF2, and was associated with increased ER binding and increased interaction between TFF1 and its distal enhancer situated within TMPRSS3. In contrast, cohesin depletion reduced c-MYC mRNA and was accompanied by reduced interaction between a distal enhancer of c-MYC and its promoters. Our data indicates that cohesin is not a universal facilitator of ER-induced transcription and can even restrict enhancer-promoter communication. We propose that cohesin modulates transcription of estrogen-dependent genes to achieve appropriate directionality and amplitude of expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jisha Antony
- Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, The University of Otago, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand
| | - Tanushree Dasgupta
- Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, The University of Otago, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand
| | - Jenny M Rhodes
- Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, The University of Otago, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand
| | - Miranda V McEwan
- Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, The University of Otago, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand
| | - Cristin G Print
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand
| | - Justin M O'Sullivan
- Liggins Institute, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand
| | - Julia A Horsfield
- Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, The University of Otago, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand.
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Lavagnolli T, Gupta P, Hörmanseder E, Mira-Bontenbal H, Dharmalingam G, Carroll T, Gurdon JB, Fisher AG, Merkenschlager M. Initiation and maintenance of pluripotency gene expression in the absence of cohesin. Genes Dev 2015; 29:23-38. [PMID: 25561493 PMCID: PMC4281562 DOI: 10.1101/gad.251835.114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2014] [Accepted: 11/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Cohesin is implicated in establishing and maintaining pluripotency. Whether this is because of essential cohesin functions in the cell cycle or in gene regulation is unknown. Here we tested cohesin's contribution to reprogramming in systems that reactivate the expression of pluripotency genes in the absence of proliferation (embryonic stem [ES] cell heterokaryons) or DNA replication (nuclear transfer). Contrary to expectations, cohesin depletion enhanced the ability of ES cells to initiate somatic cell reprogramming in heterokaryons. This was explained by increased c-Myc (Myc) expression in cohesin-depleted ES cells, which promoted DNA replication-dependent reprogramming of somatic fusion partners. In contrast, cohesin-depleted somatic cells were poorly reprogrammed in heterokaryons, due in part to defective DNA replication. Pluripotency gene induction was rescued by Myc, which restored DNA replication, and by nuclear transfer, where reprogramming does not require DNA replication. These results redefine cohesin's role in pluripotency and reveal a novel function for Myc in promoting the replication-dependent reprogramming of somatic nuclei.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thais Lavagnolli
- Lymphocyte Development Group, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 ONN, United Kingdom
| | - Preksha Gupta
- Lymphocyte Development Group, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 ONN, United Kingdom
| | - Eva Hörmanseder
- Wellcome Trust, Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, Cambridge CB2 1QN, United Kingdom
| | - Hegias Mira-Bontenbal
- Lymphocyte Development Group, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 ONN, United Kingdom
| | - Gopuraja Dharmalingam
- MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 ONN, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas Carroll
- MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 ONN, United Kingdom
| | - John B Gurdon
- Wellcome Trust, Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, Cambridge CB2 1QN, United Kingdom; Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, United Kingdom
| | - Amanda G Fisher
- Lymphocyte Development Group, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 ONN, United Kingdom
| | - Matthias Merkenschlager
- Lymphocyte Development Group, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 ONN, United Kingdom;
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Abstract
Tiny changes in our genomes can enhance oncogene expression and contribute to tumorigenesis
[Also see Report by
Mansour
et al.
]
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Vähärautio
- Genome-Scale Biology Program, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jussi Taipale
- Genome-Scale Biology Program, University of Helsinki, Finland
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Xu H, Yan Y, Deb S, Rangasamy D, Germann M, Malaterre J, Eder NC, Ward RL, Hawkins NJ, Tothill RW, Chen L, Mortensen NJ, Fox SB, McKay MJ, Ramsay RG. Cohesin Rad21 mediates loss of heterozygosity and is upregulated via Wnt promoting transcriptional dysregulation in gastrointestinal tumors. Cell Rep 2014; 9:1781-1797. [PMID: 25464844 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2014.10.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2014] [Revised: 08/29/2014] [Accepted: 10/27/2014] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene triggers a series of molecular events leading to intestinal adenomagenesis. Haploinsufficiency of the cohesin Rad21 influences multiple initiating events in colorectal cancer (CRC). We identify Rad21 as a gatekeeper of LOH and a β-catenin target gene and provide evidence that Wnt pathway activation drives RAD21 expression in human CRC. Genome-wide analyses identified Rad21 as a key transcriptional regulator of critical CRC genes and long interspersed element (LINE-1 or L1) retrotransposons. Elevated RAD21 expression tracks with reactivation of L1 expression in human sporadic CRC, implicating cohesin-mediated L1 expression in global genomic instability and gene dysregulation in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiling Xu
- Differentiation and Transcription Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (PMCC), East Melbourne, VIC 3002, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3000, Australia; Department of Pathology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Yuqian Yan
- Differentiation and Transcription Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (PMCC), East Melbourne, VIC 3002, Australia
| | - Siddhartha Deb
- Pathology Department, PMCC, East Melbourne, VIC 3002, Australia; Victorian Cancer Biobank, Carlton, VIC 3053, Australia
| | - Danny Rangasamy
- John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Markus Germann
- Differentiation and Transcription Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (PMCC), East Melbourne, VIC 3002, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Jordane Malaterre
- Differentiation and Transcription Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (PMCC), East Melbourne, VIC 3002, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Noreen C Eder
- Differentiation and Transcription Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (PMCC), East Melbourne, VIC 3002, Australia
| | - Robyn L Ward
- Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | | | - Richard W Tothill
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, Cancer Research Division, PMCC, East Melbourne, VIC 3002, Australia
| | - Long Chen
- John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Neil J Mortensen
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford Cancer Centre, Churchill Hospital, Oxford OX3 7LJ, UK
| | - Stephen B Fox
- Department of Pathology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3000, Australia; Pathology Department, PMCC, East Melbourne, VIC 3002, Australia
| | - Michael J McKay
- University of Sydney and North Coast Cancer Institute, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia
| | - Robert G Ramsay
- Differentiation and Transcription Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (PMCC), East Melbourne, VIC 3002, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3000, Australia.
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Xu B, Sowa N, Cardenas ME, Gerton JL. L-leucine partially rescues translational and developmental defects associated with zebrafish models of Cornelia de Lange syndrome. Hum Mol Genet 2014; 24:1540-55. [PMID: 25378554 PMCID: PMC4351377 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddu565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cohesinopathies are human genetic disorders that include Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) and Roberts syndrome (RBS) and are characterized by defects in limb and craniofacial development as well as mental retardation. The developmental phenotypes of CdLS and other cohesinopathies suggest that mutations in the structure and regulation of the cohesin complex during embryogenesis interfere with gene regulation. In a previous project, we showed that RBS was associated with highly fragmented nucleoli and defects in both ribosome biogenesis and protein translation. l-leucine stimulation of the mTOR pathway partially rescued translation in human RBS cells and development in zebrafish models of RBS. In this study, we investigate protein translation in zebrafish models of CdLS. Our results show that phosphorylation of RPS6 as well as 4E-binding protein 1 (4EBP1) was reduced in nipbla/b, rad21 and smc3-morphant embryos, a pattern indicating reduced translation. Moreover, protein biosynthesis and rRNA production were decreased in the cohesin morphant embryo cells. l-leucine partly rescued protein synthesis and rRNA production in the cohesin morphants and partially restored phosphorylation of RPS6 and 4EBP1. Concomitantly, l-leucine treatment partially improved cohesinopathy embryo development including the formation of craniofacial cartilage. Interestingly, we observed that alpha-ketoisocaproate (α-KIC), which is a keto derivative of leucine, also partially rescued the development of rad21 and nipbla/b morphants by boosting mTOR-dependent translation. In summary, our results suggest that cohesinopathies are caused in part by defective protein synthesis, and stimulation of the mTOR pathway through l-leucine or its metabolite α-KIC can partially rescue development in zebrafish models for CdLS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baoshan Xu
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Nenja Sowa
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA, Medical Faculty, University of Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Maria E Cardenas
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Jennifer L Gerton
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA,
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Muto A, Ikeda S, Lopez-Burks ME, Kikuchi Y, Calof AL, Lander AD, Schilling TF. Nipbl and mediator cooperatively regulate gene expression to control limb development. PLoS Genet 2014; 10:e1004671. [PMID: 25255084 PMCID: PMC4177752 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1004671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2013] [Accepted: 08/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Haploinsufficiency for Nipbl, a cohesin loading protein, causes Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS), the most common “cohesinopathy”. It has been proposed that the effects of Nipbl-haploinsufficiency result from disruption of long-range communication between DNA elements. Here we use zebrafish and mouse models of CdLS to examine how transcriptional changes caused by Nipbl deficiency give rise to limb defects, a common condition in individuals with CdLS. In the zebrafish pectoral fin (forelimb), knockdown of Nipbl expression led to size reductions and patterning defects that were preceded by dysregulated expression of key early limb development genes, including fgfs, shha, hand2 and multiple hox genes. In limb buds of Nipbl-haploinsufficient mice, transcriptome analysis revealed many similar gene expression changes, as well as altered expression of additional classes of genes that play roles in limb development. In both species, the pattern of dysregulation of hox-gene expression depended on genomic location within the Hox clusters. In view of studies suggesting that Nipbl colocalizes with the mediator complex, which facilitates enhancer-promoter communication, we also examined zebrafish deficient for the Med12 Mediator subunit, and found they resembled Nipbl-deficient fish in both morphology and gene expression. Moreover, combined partial reduction of both Nipbl and Med12 had a strongly synergistic effect, consistent with both molecules acting in a common pathway. In addition, three-dimensional fluorescent in situ hybridization revealed that Nipbl and Med12 are required to bring regions containing long-range enhancers into close proximity with the zebrafish hoxda cluster. These data demonstrate a crucial role for Nipbl in limb development, and support the view that its actions on multiple gene pathways result from its influence, together with Mediator, on regulation of long-range chromosomal interactions. Limb malformations are a striking feature of Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS), a multi-system birth defects disorder most commonly caused by haploinsufficiency for NIPBL. In addition to its role as a cohesin-loading factor, Nipbl also regulates gene expression, but how partial Nipbl deficiency causes limb defects is unknown. Using zebrafish and mouse models, we show that expression of multiple key regulators of early limb development, including shha, hand2 and hox genes, are sensitive to Nipbl deficiency. Furthermore, we find morphological and gene expression abnormalities similar to those of Nipbl-deficient zebrafish in the limb buds of zebrafish deficient for the Med12 subunit of Mediator—a protein complex that mediates physical interactions between enhancers and promoters—and genetic interaction studies support the view that Mediator and Nipbl act together. Strikingly, depletion of either Nipbl or Med12 leads to characteristic changes in hox gene expression that reflect the locations of genes within their chromosomal clusters, as well as to disruption of large-scale chromosome organization around the hoxda cluster, consistent with impairment of long-range enhancer-promoter interaction. Together, these findings provide insights into both the etiology of limb defects in CdLS, and the mechanisms by which Nipbl and Mediator influence gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akihiko Muto
- Department of Developmental & Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
- Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, Irvine, Irvine California
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Shingo Ikeda
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Martha E. Lopez-Burks
- Department of Developmental & Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
- Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, Irvine, Irvine California
| | - Yutaka Kikuchi
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Anne L. Calof
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
- * E-mail: (ALC); (ADL)
| | - Arthur D. Lander
- Department of Developmental & Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
- Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, Irvine, Irvine California
- * E-mail: (ALC); (ADL)
| | - Thomas F. Schilling
- Department of Developmental & Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
- Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, Irvine, Irvine California
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Dorsett D, Kassis JA. Checks and balances between cohesin and polycomb in gene silencing and transcription. Curr Biol 2014; 24:R535-9. [PMID: 24892918 PMCID: PMC4104651 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2014.04.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The cohesin protein complex was discovered for its roles in sister chromatid cohesion and segregation, and the Polycomb group (PcG) proteins for their roles in epigenetic gene silencing during development. Cohesin also controls gene transcription via multiple mechanisms. Genetic and molecular evidence from Drosophila argue that cohesin and the PRC1 PcG complex interact to control transcription of many active genes that are critical for development, and that via these interactions cohesin also controls the availability of PRC1 for gene silencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dale Dorsett
- Edward A. Doisy Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63104, USA.
| | - Judith A Kassis
- Program in Genomics of Differentiation, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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